ASHOT GHULYAN: IN THE TALKS WE HAVE NOTHING TO BE PROUD OF

KarabakhOpen
10-04-2007 10:30:09

The presidential election in NKR is on July 19. The president has
already stated for several times that he will not run a third term. The
likely presidential candidates are said to be Speaker Ashot Ghulyan,
the head of the National Security Service Bako Sahakyan, and the deputy
foreign minister Masis Mayilyan, the Yerevan-based Azg Daily wrote.

Ashot Ghulyan said in the interview with the Azg that the list
"does not include everyone who should be there." The speaker of the
parliament declined to say anything about his nomination.

In the interview Ashot Ghulyan also touched upon the resolution of
the Karabakh problem, underlining that at the moment there is nothing
to be proud of.

"If we clearly set the goal to reach the international recognition of
NKR and try to consolidate all our resources, and not only in Karabakh,
the goal will be quite realistic," said Ashot Ghulyan. The speaker
declined to say what the goal of the settlement had been earlier.

"The present format of the talks cannot give a sufficient evaluation
of the prospects of settlement. We need to define the stage we are
living through.

Although we remember there were times on this way when we were close
to the resolution. However, in this stage there is nothing we can be
proud of," he said.

As to the first step towards resolution, Ashot Ghulyan suggests
creating an atmosphere of confidence in the region. "We cannot
negotiate with eternal hostility on our minds," said Ashot
Ghulyan. "The participation of Karabakh in the talks will restore the
real format of the conflict. Moreover, this is what the international
documents require," the speaker said.